New tennis season set to begin for BHS

Even in the heat, the Baldwin High School tennis team has begun another season. The girls started practice Monday, Aug. 14, and are continuing for a great season.

"If you're going to play in the heat, you'd better practice in the heat and we've been doing that," said coach Ginny Honomichl. "We'd like some help with some cooler weather."

That's not likely to happen before Thursday's openers. The six girls who will play varsity will head to Topeka, while the next 12 will stay at home to play host to Olathe East. Honomichl emphasized the top six chosen this week could very well change.

"That's for this week," she said of the group. "We have a lot of talent that is packed in a bunch. Things will change a lot. The potential is there. That's the exciting thing.

"We know things will be different by the time we play the next tournament," said Honomichl.

For this week, the No. 1 singles player is Melissa Johnson and No. 2 singles will be Sarah Beaulieu. The No. 1 doubles team is Suzie Weege and Holly Oakleaf. The No. 2 doubles team will be Colleen Kivett and Carissa Venable.

Those girls and the others who will be playing varsity this year will look to duplicate the feat of last year's team that went to state. The coaches think the team is on its way to doing that.

"We're off to a great start on our season. We lost a group of talented seniors who played at the state meet last year, but we have more talent coming up. We should make a strong showing this year. I expect great things from our girls this year," said assistant coach Laura Beaulieu.

The team has a total of 28 players.

"There are a lot of girls playing this year and hopefully we will do well and make it to state as a team," said Weege, a senior.

Many of the players are returning from last year.

"I can't believe this is my fourth and final season of high school tennis. Just from the first week of practice, I feel great things coming from this group of girls. I hope this season makes coach Beaulieu and coach Honomichl proud of not only us seniors, but all the other girls, too," said senior Amy Stotts.

Some of the girls are having to start out from the beginning again, because of losing last year's partners.

"It's weird being with a tennis partner for two years and then the third and last year you have to change everything," Weege said.

The squad will first hit the courts in competition on Thursday at the Seaman Invitational in Topeka. The meet begins at 3 p.m. The home meet against Olathe East starts at 3:30 p.m.